Force-feed lubricator.



BU WI 5wu -lmuy G. W. WOODS.

FORGE FEED LUBRIGATOR.

APPLICATION rum) n.6, 1914.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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WITNESSES A uorney.

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Lubficators, Force feed,

Followers, Mechanically opergted.

G. W. WOODS.

FORGE FEED LUBRICATOH APPLICATION FILED APR N1,

1,125,245, Patent-ed Jan. 19. 1915 2 S1 EE'IE- SHEET .1.

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Lubricators, Force feed,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WILLIAM WOODS, OF VICEROY, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

FORCE-FEED LUBRIGATOR.

Application filed April 6, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM \Voous, of the town of Viceroy, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Force-Feed Lubricators, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in force feed lubricators and the principal object of the invention is to provide a lubricator attachable to an engine which will operate to force oil into the engine cylinder.

A further object is to provide a lubricator into which steam under boiler pressure is admitted, the steam effecting a double purpose, that of heating the oil and thereby preventing the same from freezing when in use in low temperatures and also that of equalizing the back pressure of the steam in the cylinder to which the lubricator is connected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricator which will require little attention, it being arranged such that it is driven by the engine and will operate without attention until the oil placed therein is entirely ejected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricator which will automatically give an alarm to signal an attendant upon the oil supply being exhausted and will continue to operate without injurious effects even after the oil has been exhausted and the signal given.

lVith the above objects in view the inrention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a side View of the complete lubricator. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view through the same, certain parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional View, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line X-X Fig. 3.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

, 1 represents a more or less cylindrical body having the ends thereof closed by head and base plates 2 and 3, these plates being designed to overhang the ends of the cylin- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 829,929.

ing of the waters of condensation from the cylinder through the pipe.

The pipe 8 communicates in actual prac tice with a steam boiler so that live steam can be fed to the cylinder when the valve 9 is opened and the drip cock closed.

11 is a piston rod passing longitudinally within the cylinder and having the upper end thereof passing out through the head 2 which is supplied with a suitable bushing 12. The lower end of the piston rod is threaded to receive the piston 13 which is designed to operate within the cylinder.

14: is a flanged packing nut applied on the lower end of the piston rod and designed to be tightened up against the packing 15 inserted between the flange of the nut and the back face of the piston which it will be noticed is grooved out to receive the packing.

16 is a lock nut located on the lower end. of the piston rod.

The piston and flanged nut are arranged to provide a steam chamber 17 beneath the piston which chamber is approached through ports 18 and 19 provided in the nut 14:. The piston rod is in the form of a tube presenting a central passage 20 which opens at the bottom to the base of the cylinder and at the top through a suitable stop cook 21 to atmosphere. The object of this construction will be explained hereinafter.

22 is a filling or supply pipe carried by the head plate 2 and opening to the top of the cylinder. It is provided with a controlling valve 23 and communicates with an oil tank 24.

25 is a feed pipe secured to the head plate 2 and opening to the interior of the cylinder. This pipe is fitted with a check valve 26 which when the device is in use leads directly to the engine cylinder to be lubri cated by it.

27 is a gear box slidably secured to the side of the cylinder. In the present instance this box has been slidably mounted on the rods 6 and 7, this construction being best shown in Fig. 40f the drawings. \Vithin the box I have mounted lower and upper spindles 2-8 and 29 and an intermediate spindle 30, the upper spindle being provided with a fixed pinion 31 and an adjoining fixed gear wheel 32, the intermediate spindle being supplied with a fixed pinion 33 meshing with the gear 32 and an adjoining fixed gear wheel 34 while the lower spindle car ries a fixed pinion 35 meshing with the gear wheel 34 and a fixed ratchet wheel 36. The ratchet wheel is outside the box while the gears and pinions are within the box.

37 is a suitably pivoted eccentric cam fitted with an extending lever 38, the said cam engaging with the bottom of the gear box and being arranged such that when in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the gear box is held in its uppermost position. By throwing out the lever the box is allowed to drop as will readily be understood.

39 is a cross shaft rotatably mounted in suitable standards 40 secured to the head plate 2. This shaft has one end thereof cranked and fitted with a lever 41 and the opposite end supplied with a driving gear 42 which is arranged to mesh with the pinion 31 when the gear box is in the uppermost position.

43 is a cross head permanently secured in any suitable way to the upper end of the piston rod.

44 and 45 are two similar vertically disposed racks having their upper ends permanently fastened by screws 45' to the extending ends of the cross head.

46 and 47 are pinions permanently secured to the cross shaft and meshing continuously with the racks.

The racks it will be noticed extend to the sides of the cylinder, the head plate being cut away to form a guide for them. The gear box is also cast to form a guide for the rack 45, this construction being best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

48 is an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the outer end of the spindle 28 and provided with a spring pressed ratchet 49 arranged to operate on the teeth of the ratchet wheel. By reciprocating the lever 48 it will be seen that the ratchet wheel will be operated with the result that the various spindles will be driven and the cross shaft rotated provided of course the gear box is in its upper position.

I do not wish to be restricted in any way to the particular manner in which the actuating lever is operated as it can be connected in actual practice through a link with any part of the engine which will give the back and forward movement necessary. In order however that the action may be made clear in this specification I have shown a rotatably mounted disk 50 fitted with an eccentric pin 51, the pin being connected with the lever with the result that when the disk turns the lever is swung backwardly and forwardly.

The precise connection between the pin or other such driving part and the lever which I wish to employ is now described in detail as it embodies a signaling apparatus which I consider of great value in a. device of this kind.

52 and 53 are similar parallel links, the link 52 having the outer end connected with the pin 51 while the link 53 has the outer end connected to the lever. The inner end of the link 53 is received slidably within a permanent hanger 54 carried by the link 52 while the inner end of the link 52 is received slidably within a bracket 55 permanently secured to the link 53, the bracket also supporting a hell or gong 56.

57 and 58 are spiral springs mounted on the inner ends of the links, the spring 57 appearing between a shoulder formed in the link 52 and the bracket 55 while the spring 58 appears between a shoulder formed in the link 53 and the hanger 54.

59 is a hammer permanently secured to the inner end of the link 52 and normally contained within the bell.

The operation of the lubricator is now described assuming it mounted in any suitable location preferably adjoining an engine and having the pipe 8 leading to a boiler, the pipe 25 leading to the engine cylinder and the body or cylinder 1 filled with oil, the oil being placed therein through the supply pipe 22. In this description also the disk 50 can be considered as attached to the crank shaft of the engine. Its precise location however is immaterial as has already been explained.

As the lever is reciprocated the gears and pinion within the box are slowly rotated and effect the rotation ofthe cross shaft. As the cross shaft turns the pinions 46 and 47 operate to raise the racks with the result that the piston is very slowly drawn upwardly within the casing. As it passes up the oil in the casing is expelled through the feed pipe 25 to the cylinder lubricating the same.

If the capacity of the cylinder is large the device will not require attention for a considerable time as it will obviously take quite a long period for the piston to travel up the full length of the cylinder and expel all the oil. However when such does happen the attendant is warned by the bell which starts to ring. It will be seen that when the piston has engaged with the head that it is impossible for the lever to reciprocate. Accordingly as the eccentric pin or other such similar device continues driving, the link 52 will be compelled to slide against the pressure of the springs in respect to the link 53 the bell remaining stationary. As the link 52 slides Lubricators, Force feed,

Followers, Mechanically operated,

back and forth the hammer hits the bell and raises the alarm. The attendant hearing this immediately withdraws the lever 38 to allow the gear box to drop and then proceeds to refill the cylinder with oil after having closed the valve 9 and opened the drip cock 10. This is done by pouring oil into the tank, opening the valve 23 and forcing down the racksvand consequently the piston by the turning of the crank 4:1. During this operation the check valve 26 seats (owing to back pressure from the engine cylinder) and pre vents steam from the engine cylinder escaping into the cylinder 1. Vhen the cylinder 1 is refilled the valve 9 is again opened, the drip cock is closed and the lever 38 is thrown out to raise the gear box and mesh the pinion 81 with the gear wheel 42.

Under normal working conditions the springs 57 and 58 have to be strong enough to withstand the work required of the lever in turning the ratchet wheel.

By admitting steam from the boiler to the bottom of the cylinder and to the under side of the piston I accomplish two objects. The first object is that I do not have to drive the piston against the steam pressure of the engine cylinder as the boiler pressure admitted to the under side of the piston equalizes the back pressure from the engine cylinder as will be readily apparent The second object is that I am able to heat the lubricator when required. Under ordinary temperature con ditions the steam which enters the chamber 17 and which passes into the open center of the piston rod will be sufficient to keep the oil in a good fluid condition. Where however exceptionally cold temperatures are experienced the stop cook 21 is opened slightly to allow the steam to exhaust. This w1ll obviously increase the applied heat and will entirely prevent the oil from freezing.

What I claim as my invention 1s;

1. The combination comprising a cylinder fitted with suitable head and closure plates, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and ex tending slidably through the head of the cylinder, an oil supply pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being fitted with a controlling valve, an oil feed pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through thehead thereof, said pipe being supplied with a check valve, means for admitting live steam to the base of the cylinder beneath the piston, a cross head secured to the extending end of the piston rod, similar parallel racks secured to the cross head and arranged parallel with the piston rod, suitably mounted pinions engaging continuously with the racks and means for rotating the pinions to operate the racks and gradually draw the piston toward the head of the cylinder, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination comprising a cylinder fitted with suitable head and closure plates, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending slidably through the head of the cylinder, an oil supply pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being fitted with a controlling valve, an oil feed pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being supplied with a check valve, means for admitting live steam to the base of the cylinder beneath the piston, a cross head secured to the extending end of the piston rod, similar parallel racks secured to the cross head and arranged parallel with the piston rod, a rotatably mounted cross shaft carried by the head plate, pinions mounted on thecross shaft and engaging with the racks and means for gradually rotating the cross shaft to raise the racks and advance the piston within the cylinder, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination comprising a cylinder fitted with suitable head and closure plates, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending slidably through the head of the cylinder, an oil supply pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being fitted with a controlling valve, an oil feed pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being supplied with a check valve, means for admitting live steam to the base of the cylinder beneath the piston, a cross head secured to the extending end of the piston rod, similar parallel racks secured to the cross head and arranged parallel with the piston rod, a rotatably mounted cross shaft carried by the head plate, pinions mounted on the cross shaft and engaging with the racks, a gear wheel mounted on the cross shaft, an adjustable gear box adjoining the cylinder and containing a train of speed reducing gears and pinions, means for driving the train of gears, and means for shifting the gear box to connect the train of gears with the gear wheel on the cross shaft, as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination comprising a cylinder fitted with suitable head and closure plates, :1- piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending slidably through the head of the cylinder, an oil supply pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being fitted with a controlling valve, an oil feed pipe opening to the interior of the cylinder through the head thereof, said pipe being supplied with a check valve, means for admitting live steam to the base of the cylinder beneath the piston, a cross head secured to the extending end of the piston rod, similar parallel racks secured to the cross head and arrangedparallel with the piston rod, a rotatalfilymgiunt ed cross shaft carried by ther' hea dplate, pinions mounted on the cross" shaft and engaging with the racks, a gear wheel mounted on the cross shaft, :1 gear box slidably mounted on the side of the casing, a spindle rotatably mounted in the gear box intermeshing speed reducing gear wheels and pinions mounted on the spindles, a pinion fixed on the upper spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to the lower spindle, a lever mounted on the lower spindle and provided with a spring pressed ratchet engaging with the ratchet wheel, means for reciprocating the lever to drive the spindles and releasable means for shifting the gear box and engaging the pinion on the upper spindle with the gear wheel of the cross shaft, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a lubricator the combination with a cylinder for the reception of oil, a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder and a steam pipe opening to the cylinder, a piston separating the oil from the steam, of a hollow piston rod secured to the piston and having one end communicating with the steam admitted to the cylinder, the body portion thereof passing through the oil and the opposite end thereof opening to atmos phere and a stop cock secured to the rod and controlling the escape of steam through the same to ati'nosphere, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a lubricator the combination with an oil containing cylinder provided with suitable head and case closure plates, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder and means for admitting live steam to the base of the cylinder through the base plate, said piston separating the oil from the steam, of a hollow piston rod secured to the piston and communicating directly through the same with the live steam, the body thereof extending through the oil and passing slid ably through the head plate and the upper end thereof fitted with a stop cock, as and for the purpose specified.

'7. In a lubricator for engine cylinders the combination with a cylinder having the ends engaging with the racks and means for rotating the cross shaft, said means embodying a drive spindle, a train of gears and pinions, a ratchet wheel fixed on the drive spindle, a lever mounted on the spindle and fitted with a ratchet operating on a wheel and an adjoining rotatably mounted disk fitted with an eccentric pin, of a link pivotally secured to the lever, a link pivotally mounted on the eccentric pin, a bracket secured to the former link and slidably receiving the latter, a hanger secured to the latter link and slidably receiving the former, springs carried by the links and interposed between the bracket and the hanger, a gong secured to the bracket and a hammer carried by the end of the latter link and designed to hit the gong upon the springs being compressed through the action of the piston engaging the head of the cylinder and preventing the movement of the lever, as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at \Vinnipeg this 17th day of February 1914.

GEORGE WILLIAM WOODS.

In presence of GERALD S. RoxnUnGI-r, S. SILvEnT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

